Ami Followed her Uncle quietly, head down, not seeing anything really. she was lost in her own thoughts. She still couldn't beleive all that had happened in the last few weeks. Her whole family gone, No one but her... Uncle... an uncle she didn't really know, and who obviously didn't like her much at all. on the road, traveling non stop, she didn't even know where she was anymore.
It didn't matter anyway. She thought, I should have died too. It would have been better than this.
Ever since the accident it seemed she'd done nothing but sleep and cry. She hadn't been hurt, not bad. Only a slight concussion, a sprained wrist and cuts and bruises. But the rest of her family hadn't been as lucky. It happened so fast she didn't even remember much really one minute she was punching her annoying older brother Daryn in the arm and yelling at him to leave her alone. Her mother had turned around to hand her little sister Shelby her sippy cup and her Dad was talking about the family trip to the beach coming up this summer. She heard a loud pop, the van started shaking then nothing but screaming, swearing... she imagined now that was her brother a loud bang, then everything went black.
When she came to in the hospital hours later she knew something was dreadfully wrong. Just the way the nurses fussed over her and looked at her with such pity. Her memory at first was very fuzzy she couldnt figure out why she was there but very slowly the realization hit her and she just knew. She wasn't told all the details until a bit later once they were sure she was going to be ok. The tire blew, the van veered into oncoming traffic and was practically decimated by a tractor-trailer. They still had no idea how she managed to survive since there was hardly anything left of the mini van. And that she survived with minimal injury was another mircle.
A miracle to some she thought but to her more like a curse. Her Uncle Randy was anything but pleasant. He was rude, yelled constantly and threatend to 'whip her into compliance' if she so much as looked cross eyed at him. He had made it clear from day one that she was to not speak unless spoken to, do as she was told without hesitation and as far as he was concerned just appear invisible. He let he know a child was the last thing he wanted responsibility for, especially the orphaned brat of his oh so perfect brother.... her father.
Ami had no idea why Uncle Randy had so much animosity towards his brother, her father hadn't really talked about Uncle Randy much. she had only over heard him called worthless and scum. Titles that at this point she was thouroughly agreeing with.
She had hoped that maybe after a bit of adjustment she would be allowed to do some things, like meet the others who were on the tour, or go see some sites in some of the cities or even just mingle a bit.But no, that was not allowed, her days consisted of waking up, having a quick breakfast and taking off with her Uncle for whatever venue they worked that day. Helping carry equipment and set up. And then staying within his sight yet out of the way until the show was over. Then waiting til load out was complete before going back to either the bus or the local hotel to fall into a fitful sleep.
She was not allowed to speak to anyone unless they asked her a direct question and she was by no means to approach anyone in the band. Not that she would. what would she have to say to one of them anyway? The only part of the day she ever looked forward to really was the show. She loved the band Bon Jovi. She had had many posters of them in her room and had all the albums. So seeing them play every night was the only light in her dreary tunnel of exsistance.
She was jerked out of her dark thoughts when she heard her name being barked in a crass tone "Ami!! Ami Lynn get your ass over here... pay attention girl!"
He was in a mood again, then again when wasn't he. She sighed and and walked over as fast as she could and her merely shoved a handful of cords into her arms and said "take these up and put em on the cabinets" then turned abruptly around and kept working on setting up the sound board.
Ami sighed and did as she was told making her way aimlessly to the stage wrapped up her own thoughts. She wasn't paying much attention to her footing and she knew better. The stage steps weren't exactly the most easy things to manuever and certainly not with an armload of heavy electrical chords. She felt her foot slip and knew she was in trouble when she pitched over backwards and not forwards, giving herself no way to break her fall. She gasped and was about to let out a squeal when she felt herself land on something much softer than the hard cement floor she had been expecting.
"Whoa there little lady... you have to be a bit more careful or you'll get hurt." she heard a voice say very close to her ear as she was suddenly sat back on feet and steadied by two very sturdy hands. "Are you ok?"
She looked up and stammered "I'm sorry..." and then looked down at the cords scattered about her feet... she bent down to start picking them up. Anything to keep busy.. it was him.... her heart was racing. She watched him every night but never had she been this close to him, never had she spoken to him only watched. She stole a glance in her Uncles direction and could tell by his scowl he has seen the whole thing. she knew she was in for a bit of yelling if not worse. he had been adamant about her not bothering the band so she hurried to pick up the mess she'd made as fast as possible.
Richie studied the girl he'd just saved from a very bad ass bruising with curiousity and a bit of humor. She looked so young to be a roadie and she was so nervous. He grinned a bit thinking she must be family of one of crew members and he must of shocked her. " Hey... it's ok.. don't be sorry... here let me help you" he bent and started helping her pick up the armload of cords she had been carrying
" oh... no don't it's ok... I've got it...." she insisted a bit thrown off by him helping her she stole another glance in her Uncles direction and saw his scowl deepen.
" don't be silly it won't hurt me to help you" He smiled "afterall, you almost hurt yourself.. these are for my amps anyway.... What's your name?"
"Ami" she replied in a soft voice almost so soft he didn't hear her as she went to take the rest of the chords out of his hands
" no no.. I have these.... after you..." he refused to let her carry them all and motioned her back up the steps she had just about fallen off of.
She silently made her way, carefully this time up the steps He watched he also in silence as he followed her onto the stage noticing how she kept her head down, her golden blonde hair a bit unruly hid most of her features from him and he wondered exactly what this tiny little, soft spoken girl looked like under that untamed mass.
"So do you work for us Ami? I have never seen you before"
She laid the cords where they were supposed to be and said "No, I'm here with my uncle"
"Ah... I see.. and he works for us?"
"Yeah" she still kept her head focused down.
"Ami Lynn!!! Hurry up!!" Her Uncle called none too nicely from behind the sound board
Ami startled a bit and glanced up at him for a split second "I'm sorry I have to go.. thank you.... for...." she just shrugged a bit at a loss for words.
"Randy's your Uncle?" Richie looked over the crew member he had only spoken to a few times. He knew the man to be one of the more rowdy of the crew. He knew the man wasn't invited to many of the after parties cause alot of other employees didn't care much for his drunken antics and off color remarks. He looked down at the young girl who he could now see looked as soft and sweet as her voice sounded. When she raised her head to look up at him her curls had fallen away from her face revealing a set of quite spectacular green eyes. A few light freckles were scattered across her peachy skin and her full lips were set in slight and unsure pout. He was a bit taken aback by her beauty. And himself for even noticing. Once he got a good look at her knew she couldn't be much more than 15 or 16 but regardless he found her extremely attractive. It amazed him that someone so soft spoken and vulnerable looking could be related to the sloppy, loud , rude man across the arena.
He held his hand up in Randys direction and called "Just a minute man"
Ami watched in amazement as her usually smart assed, and insubordinant Uncle quit scowling and seemed to resign himself to the knowledge that Richie would speak with her for as long as he wished and just replied " oh.. yeah ok.. no hurry" She could tell he wasn't pleased but he also valued his job too much to go against one of his bosses wished right then, but she knew she would hear about it later.
Richie just nodded and called back to him "If you don't mind, I'd like to borrow her for a bit... I could use some help up here"
her Uncle looked a bit put out by his request but just shrugged and said "Oh.. yeah sure... ok" and went back to working.
Ami just stood there wondering what in the world her wanted her do, she had experience in any of this and really didn't do much more than carry things.
Richie turned his attention back to Ami and just smiled " would you mind helping me?" He asked
"No.. of course not.... but I..."
"Great!" his face lit up and motioned her to follow him " come on.... over here"
Sambora's G.G. & Jovi Girl 2003 ~ Everything here is a work of fiction and fantasy. This site has no affiliation with the Bon Jovi organization or any of it's member's. ~ Many thanks go out to Qayin and my Terror Twin Brandy aka Wicked Gem without whom this site would be Graphicless! LOL Also my brother Chad who is my "Computer Guru" and offers up his "Knowlege and help for FOOD!" Thank you!!